Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 17th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive gales across the hills. Rain preceded by early snow on higher terrain in the Highlands, lifting briefly above freezing to high tops. Showery bursts follow into western Scotland, heavy and frequent with hail later. England & Wales sees rain much of the day, spreading eastward, heavy at times.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Upland gales, severe high tops. Snow/rain later showery.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 50 to 60mph, often 70mph higher Cairngorms, powerful gusts in places downslope to north/east. Starting to lessen a little in the afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the mountains, walking difficult in exposure, sudden buffeting to some mid-slopes; some improvement later in daytime.
How Wet?
Rain and some hill snow, mostly south
Rain and initially snow above 700-900m from before dawn, turning to rain during morning toward higher slopes, most persistent southern Cairngorms NP, some heavy; less toward north. Later becoming showery. Some fresh snow cover on the Munros, beware icy surfaces.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas, lifting bases
Shrouding most higher terrain all day, from mid-slopes up southern Cairngorms around to Drumochter. Mostly higher tops northward, but rarely above summits. Base tending to lift during afternoon, some breaks form.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and murky south. Better visibility below cloud and if drier locally north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 3 or 4C in morning, then lowering again from dusk. Feeling like -12 to -15C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Varying, 800-1000m around dawn, then rising above highest summits; then into night dropping to 1100-1200m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 18th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 40 to 60mph, powerful gusts downslope from northern Cairngorms corries.
Effect of the wind on you?
Ongoing arduous conditions over higher terrain, walking often difficult in exposure, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain / snow tops developing later
Rare showers, but likely often dry perhaps well into afternoon. Risk of rain moving in from southwest later, may set in heavy; falling as snow on higher terrain. Showery onward into the night with hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent south, breaks north
Varied cloud banks, often covering southern Cairngorms NP above 800m, higher and better breaks northward, but lowering widely later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, to 60% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some sun and very good visibility mostly north, varied high cloud. Mistier southern hills, reducing to poor if in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 3C, then lowering just below 0C into night. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C on tops.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1200m, highest toward north; tending to rise a little during daytime, then dropping into night to 800-900m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 19th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 50 to 70mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions over the mountains, frequent buffeting from modest elevations upward. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers mostly west, hail, snow tops
Showery precipitation most common in areas near and west of the A9, with hail, also falling as snow above 800m. Becoming more scattered later in the day. Few showers reaching eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher tops, breaks east
Frequently on higher slopes toward western Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath, base mostly above 800m. Often above 1000-1100m east, good breaks likely.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, best toward east. Visibility often very good, but at times very poor in showers in west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 1C, slight rise later. Feeling like -15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m, may then rise a little to 1200m onward into the night.
Planning Outlook
South-southwesterly winds widely remain gale force over the mountains later this week and through into Saturday, severe upland gales for periods. More heavy rain for England and Wales on Thursday, further flooding expected; rain spreads north into Scotland, falling as snow on Munros. Showery by Friday, most frequent in western Scotland with hail, also snow over tops. Another belt of persistent rain likely arrives from the west into Saturday, snow only highest Scottish tops. A switch to east-southeasterly winds by Sunday into early next week, some residual rain and high-level snow, but a drier theme develops and favouring chillier conditions into the Christmas period.